Q1) What is Islamism? How Islam became a global phenomenon?Ans:IslamismIslamism also known as Political Islam is a set of ideologies holding that "Islam should guide social and political as well as personal life. Islamism is a controversial concept not just because it posits a political role for Islam but also because its supporters believe their views merely reflect Islam, and that the contrary idea that Islam is, or can be, apolitical is an error. Islamists can have varying interpretations on various Quranicsuras and ayahs. Islamist views emphasize the implementation of Sharia (Islamic law); of pan-Islamic political unity; and of the selective removal of non-Muslim, particularly Western military, economic, political, social, or cultural influences in the Muslim world that they believe to be incompatible with Islam.Some observers suggest Islamism's tenets are less strict, and can be defined as a form of identity politics or "support for Muslim identity, authenticity, broader regionalism, revivalism, and revitalization of the community. Following the Arab Spring, political Islam was described as "increasingly interdependent" with political democracy .Islamists generally oppose the use of the term, claiming that their political beliefs and goals are simply an expression of Islamic religious belief. Similarly, some experts (Bernard Lewis) favor the term "activist Islam", or "political Islam" (Trevor Stanley), and some (Robin Wright) have equated the term "militant Islam" with terrorism.Globalization Globalization is the spread and exchange of people, goods, and ideas across the globe. Normally, it is directly associated with change, or transformation, modernity, and an increasingly interdependent relationship between different regions of the world. "Globalization is an aspect of human life that has always been there since the beginning of humanity. It corresponds with the natural human instinct and man's tendency towards being a 'social animal.' It is the tendency with which God has created man to live on exchanging his sources and experiences with others around him, in order to achieve and realize the best chances of life Globalization is a process in which "the whole world becomes like a small village, where the less advanced communities can develop their capacities" and that "tends to be a two-way street process, which makes it possible for each community to take as well as to give." Westernization, on the other hand, tends to be a one-way street, meaning that one region attempts to dominate and control other regions in the name of globalization. Moreover, while globalization occurs through the free will of different communities, Westernization is characteristically imposed upon other regions.

How Islam became a global phenomenon

Islamism is a complex phenomenon with multiple dimensions and various ramifications. Like other political doctrines, Islamism, in its contemporary shape, is an ideology, a movement- organization and a form of government. This study is predominantly devoted to the analysis of Islamism as a totalitarian ideology. We are interested in knowing how and when this concept has been fabricated; how it has evolved and what differentiates it from Islam. Aiming at a conceptual clarification, we propose a definition of Islamism which enables us to grasp the essence of this phenomenon in its variations (Sunni, Shi'a and Wahhabi) and its different shapes (global and national). Our analysis shows that, despite sectarian and other differences between various Islamist groups, their final objective remains the same. They all aim at the reinstauration of the Islamic might in the world: to achieve this goal, the use of violence is not rejected.

It's a story going back 1500 years. The desert of Arabia is flaming hot. Food and water are scarce. The only ones who live happily are merchants who trade goods that come through the desert route. But the land is divided into tribes, who are constantly at war. It is harming the economy and the people. The sex is widely twisted as men die in the daily wars and women are left at home to fend for themselves. The only time there is peace is during an yearly pilgrimage, when all the tribes come to mecca to worship their lords (much like the dothraki - if you are a GOT fan). Watching all this is an orphan named Muhammad, who is under the tutelage of his uncle, a merchant of high respect in one tribe that controls the pilgrimage center. He sees in these people, a struggle to survive and a chance of peace in the land where much blood had been spilled. So, in comes a religion called Islam, whose chief aim is the unification of these tribes into a coherent unit. All of Islamic traditions are made for this one purpose. With the 'divine right' and an amazing amount of diplomacy, strategy and strength, a new religion is born, which spreads across Arabia like wildfire, because it gave people what they most desired - peace. That is the origin of Islam.Soon the army of arabia invades nearby countries, as is the custom of the time and their nature. The conquered people lose faith in their own Gods, which could not protect them from the Arabs and readily convert to Islam. Now comes the second Phase of expansion. the era of Muhammad and family is over. In comes the era of monarchs who rule using religion. Like any monarch, their aims are easily defined in terms of power and land. From among these caliphates rose the Powerful Ottoman Empire, which spread across Europe and Asia with Turkey as it's center. Soon Islam came to Persia, then travelled east to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Finally India. There were many a Muslim rulers and leaders from mad Muhammad bin tughlaq to scholar Babur, from the raider Ghazni to benevolent akbar. In africa, the Byzantine Empire, that was at it's weakest was easily demolished by Caliphates. One of these tribes, renowned for their battle prowess was enlisted to attack Europe and take control finally of the city of Jerusalem, which would later become the target of the crusades. These newly converted people, then spread the religion by means of simple trade and contact, to a point where it has now spread to about half of africa.

So there, Islam is popular because - 1. It's inception had an extraordinary brilliance behind it. It did something tribesman and merchants had failed to do for so long a time, it created a nation of arabia(so to speak)2. It's spread was highly endorsed by the emerging empires, who used it to gain a divine authority to rule. The courtiers soon converted to gain favours and the effect trickled down. In some empires there were even forceful conversions.

Islam is the second largest religion and the fastest growing religion in the world. Islam began to spread in Arabia around the year 610 A.D. when Prophet Muhammad began receiving revelations from God through Archangel Gabriel, sharing with others what he had been told. Today, Islam is a global phenomenon represented by Muslims across the world. "Fifteen million Muslims reside in Europe, and seven to eight million in the United States. There are now about a thousand mosques each in Germany and France, and five hundred in the United Kingdom. One factor that may explain the rapid spread of Islam is the process of globalization itself.

Islam's future depends upon its ability to wed Western-style modernism with Islamic principles, or, in other words, whether it can develop an Islamic-style modernism. The challenge is to engage in modernity without sacrificing Muslim values or undermining Islamic principles. "As we are only slowly realizing, Islam is truly a world religion, increasingly visible in Europe and the United States as well as Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It is significant for the future of Islam that "the capitals and major cities of Islam are not only Cairo, Istanbul, Mecca, but equally Paris, London, New York.

Given that Islam has become a global phenomenon, it is increasingly important that its principles are respected and not made irrelevant in the modern world. "All religious people in any age have to make their traditions address the challenge of their particular modernity. Rather than provoking the bi-polarization of the world, separating Islamic values from Western values, the goal of globalization is to develop an understanding of each other's values and codes of ethics and to establish a common ground. Establishing a common ground is vital for ensuring the progress of globalization and allowing the world to reach its full potential. Modernization and globalization need to respect the identities of all regions and respect religion as a natural necessity for humanity.

The struggle for religion to remain relevant in the world is common to all religions at some point in history. Much of the literature surrounding the current Islam-globalization debate provides an inadequate and fragmented view of religion's role in the process of globalization. Secularization, which is promoted in the current forms of globalization, is a new concept. In fact, based upon historical precedence, religion has played a key role in contributing to globalization and, more specifically, Islam has had a predominant role.